August 14, 2008

Lofgren provides update, answers questions

By Carol Rosen
Editor

Zoe Lofgren, the 16th Congressional District representative, visited Almaden on Monday, Aug. 11 to speak with members of the Almaden Valley Community Association.

Upwards of 40 people attended the event, including District 10 City Council-member Nancy Pyle as Lofgren explained some of the Congressional accomplishments of this year and then took questions from the audience.

Among the accomplishments she mentioned were cutting in half the interest rate for student loans; expanding Veterans’ Admini-stration health care for soldiers who have and continue to serve in Iraq and Afghan-istan; a new GI Bill expanding benefits for those serving; and a bill to expand affordable housing and stabilize the current weak housing market.

Lofgren also discussed a bill for new homeowner loan provisions that becomes ef-fective on Oct. 1. This bill will allow those with problem loans to refinance with affordable loans.

Her biggest topic, however, dealt with energy. United States consumers use 25 percent of all the oil, and with other developing counties using more and more oil, demand is outstripping supply and, as many people have noted, its time to do something about U.S. dependence on oil.

Her ideas include an energy bill that raises gas/motor efficiency standards as well as stopping the refilling of the U.S. strategic oil reserves and releasing some of the reserves to lower prices at the pump. In addition, she suggests that Congress deal with commodity market speculators who, up until a few weeks ago, were driving prices sky high.

Not surprisingly, she added that the United States needs to get more serious about wind and solar power as well as possibly, but more long term, nuclear power and off-shore drilling. Lofgren also mentioned that she has been discussing the situation with financier T. Boone Pickens, who made his fortune through natural gas, who has proposed an alternative energy plan that includes natural gas, wind and solar power.

She then opened the session for questions, and through a “lively discussion, she got an earful,” noted Ron Blake, AVCA vice president.

One vocal audience member told Lofgren “Congress is more into Iraq than security for our borders.” The person complained about the number of illegal aliens in California. Lofgren did not appear to agree with that person’s points.

Another question dealt with redistricting. “The politicians are using redistricting to select voters, not the other way around,” said Bob Boydston, former AVCA president. Lofgren agreed, but noted that the state assembly members handle redistricting.

She completed the session discussing the current crisis of Russia invading Georgia and her concerns about the situation, which apparently had settled down somewhat by Aug. 12 with a cease-fire agreed to by both countries. In addition, she mentioned that she had not voted for the Iraq War and that “we can’t stay in Iraq forever. It’s too costly a war and it has to end,” she said.

The next AVCA meeting is Monday, Sept. 8 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Almaden Community Center, 6455 Camden Ave. The guest speaker will be Pyle, who will discuss how the city’s five-year plan will affect District 10 and how AVCA can be involved.